Boehner endorses Romney, pledges to do "everything" he can to help

File,AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Updated 3 p.m. ET

(CBS News) House Speaker John Boehner finally got into the 2012 presidential race today, saying he will be "proud to support Mitt Romney and do everything I can to help him win."

In response to a question from CBS News as to whether the speaker would finally endorse Romney, Boehner said that "it's clear now that Mitt Romney is going to be our nominee."

He added that as chairman of the GOP convention, he had not wanted to endorse before now to give the candidates a "fair process and a fair opportunity."

A GOP aide with knowledge of plans going forward says that Boehner's main focus will continue to be House races, but that there certainly will be discussions over the weeks ahead with the Romney campaign about how the two sides can work together. The aide said there are currently no plans in the works for Boehner to join Romney on the trail.

Boehner's stock answer to Capitol Hill reporters throughout the GOP campaign has been that he's so focused on being speaker of the House and the congressional agenda to get into presidential politics. Endorsing for Boehner was also awkward since he served in the House with three of the last-standing Romney rivals. But the speaker clearly feels politically safe now that Sen. Rick Santorum is out of the race, leaving just former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.

Boehner said today that he thinks Romney "has a set of economic policies that can put Americans back to work and frankly contrast sharply with the failed economic policies of President Obama."

The Romney campaign did not immediately respond to a CBS News for comment, but Romney did Tweet that he was "grateful" for Boehner's support.

[sharkboy234]

Mitt Romney is in it to win it with those 5 states Connecticut, Delaware,new york,Pennsylvania & Rhode island Mitt Romney is going to be the nomination! Get on with it.

[Maerzie]

What choice does he have?? They're stuck with Romney no matter HOW you look at it, bu Romney agrees with everybody anyway! It's too bad they set their sites so hard on getting rid of Obama that they forgot to find any viable candidate who could understand why they BLOCK everything. The action and inaction in Congress should be illegal because they are breaking their oaths to work FOR the good of the PEOPLE, NOT their politicking!

[1pheasant1]

There you have it, Tea Party. Boehner endorses Romney. Ha-ha! Too funny.

[payasyougo]

Of course he backs him. If Obama is going to lose the election then Democrats back Romney as well. It keeps the big game going so noone will be required to balance, contain or cut. 20 years of it now.

[1pheasant1]

Hey, Pay! You do know that Boehner is a Tea Sipper, don't you? At least that's what the Tea Partiers thought!

[aintfakin]

this chiken POS wouldnt say anything until he didn't have to stick his pencil neck out

[fedup12]

Robomneycare was good before Obama stole it from Mittens.

[aintfakin]

intelligence ...logic
not here

[Twaker]

Considering the value of Boehner's (Boners) stock. I'm not sure this endorsement is very valuable.

[Obama4more]

by Dan1609 April 17, 2012 8:48 PM EDT
I agree with Ted. Obama is the worst President to EVER occupy the WHITEhouse.
----

My god Dan...are you a bigot on top of being a drunk azz fool????

[fedup12]

Well, he is holding his nose while he does it.

[Obama4more]

Me too...for both Bone-head and Mittens.

[Lindag10]

Since Bonehead didn't cry during the interview you know he's faking the support.

[esq777]

Come on CBS, instead of covering this nonstory, where's the coverage of the outrageous threats made against the President by Willard Romney spokesman Ted Nugent???